Elastomeric device that reduces instrument movement

ABSTRACT

A homogeneous elastomeric fermata molding that can be used with an instrument that reduces the potential sliding movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a wall, desk or edge. The fermata is used to hold a musical instrument, tool such as a broom or other item that may be unstable if placed against a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface. When the fermata is placed between the instrument and a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface the fermata holds the instrument in place. The fermata increases the coefficient of friction between the guitar and the wall to reduce the possibility of damage to the instrument and possible damage to the wall and or ground. The fermata can be used external to the instrument or tool. The fermata can be bonded, wrapped around, interference or frictionally attached to the instrument.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a homogeneous cast or molded part that reduces the movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument from sliding when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a surface such as a wall, desk or ledge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many instrument-clamping inventions are available today that clamp or hold an instrument in place. Most of these inventions are made from multiple pieces or are fixed or attached to a desk, wall, edge, amplifier or loudspeaker. Some of the major problems with these devices are that they are not portable nor do that allow for easy transportation of the holding mechanism. Another problem is the cost to manufacture or produce the product because of the number of components they are made from.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,633 issued to Caudill on Oct. 16, 1973, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,809 issued to Harkey on Feb. 12, 1991 both discloses a musical instrument stand or support that attaches to a guitar amplifier or loudspeaker. These inventions both span the area on top of a guitar amplifier of loudspeaker and wrap around the front and backsides to essentially clamp the invention onto the top of the amplifier or loudspeaker. The inventions also have a fork, “U”, “C”, or yoke shaped member that clamp hold or retain the musical instrument to prevent movement. Both of these inventions require mounting the invention onto an amplifier or loudspeaker, and are made from multiple pieces. They are difficult to transport and are not made from a homogeneous material. In addition, these inventions will not work with vertical surfaces or where there is not a back edge to clamp around.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,732 issued to Gallegos Aug. 24, 1982 discloses a supporting bracket for musical instruments. The bracket is attached to the side of a box, desk or ledge using screws. The bracket is a “J” shaped piece of rod material that is attached to a holder. The holder is then attached to the top of an amplifier or speaker. While this invention performs the function of holding a guitar, the invention is made from multiple pieces, and is not easily transported.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,688 issued to Cuccio Oct. 15, 1985 discloses a holder for musical instruments. The holder is a “U” shaped member that is integrated onto a plug for a musical instrument amplifier. The plug is connected to a guitar amplifier where the guitar would plug into. When the person playing the guitar is finished, they unplug the guitar, and plug the holder into the amplifier. They can then set the body of the guitar onto the ground and rest the neck of the guitar into a “U” shaped member that is connect to the end of the exposed portion of the plug. This invention requires the user to unplug the instrument and then plug the holder into the amplifier. The holder is made from multiple components, and requires the amplifier to connect onto the amplifier.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,073 issued to Broerma et al. on Sep. 13, 1994 disclose a portable guitar holders that wrap around a guitar amplifier or speaker. These inventions are made from multiple components, and require a front and back surface to clamp on. These inventions are intended only for guitars or other amplified musical instruments. They are not easily transported, and are not made from a homogeneous material.

What is needed is a simple invention that can be easily transported, is simple to manufacture, cost effective, and maintains an instrument, or tool in positions while in use. The ideal invention would be made from a single homogeneous material and could easily be used on multiple instruments or locations. The proposed invention provides a solution to these needs that is not currently being filled by products that are available today.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a homogeneous or insert molded cast or formed part that reduces the movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a wall, desk or edge. The invention is called a fermata which is a musical term meaning to sustain or hold a note. For the invention, fermata is used because it holds a musical instrument, tool or other item that may be unstable if placed against a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface.

The need for such a fermata can be found in a number of areas. One use is with musical instruments such as a guitar where the guitar is placed on the ground where the body is placed on the ground, and the neck of the guitar is in vertical orientation. The head or neck of the guitar is rested against a wall, desk or guitar amplifier. In this configuration, the guitar is susceptible to movement or sliding because the coefficient of friction between the neck of the guitar and the wall is low and the guitar is not stable. Slight disruption of the guitar balanced against the wall may cause the guitar to slide down the wall, and may cause damage to the guitar when the side of the guitar makes contact with the ground. A device that can increase the coefficient of friction between the guitar and the wall reduce the possibility of damage to the instrument and possible damage to the wall and or ground. The ideal device would not change the sound from the instrument, or interfere with playing the instrument. One fermata can be placed over the edge of a desk or musical instrument amplifier, when the musician is finished playing or is resting the musician can place the musical instrument against the fermata, and the instrument will be held in position.

The invention can be attached to an in instrument such as a guitar where the invention is bonded, attached or wrapped around a portion of the instrument. When the fermata is attached to the instrument the musician simply needs to rest the instrument against a wall, desk, table, ledge or other similar surface. The musician will not have to look for a non-attached fermata, and the fermata attached to the instrument will keep the instrument in place.

Another example where this invention is useful is with tools such as a broom or other device that has an elongated handle. The fermata can be manufactured in a shape that reduces rotation of the handle of the tool, and a hole that the handle can be placed. In this usage, the broom can rest against a wall and the possibility of the broom sliding down the wall is reduced.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent form the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the fermata.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fermata from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of a musical instrument resting on a fermata from FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a fermata.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the fermata from claim 4 attached to a musical instrument.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a fermata supporting a cleaning tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to the fermata shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 1 an isometric view of the fermata 10, is shown. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the fermata from claim 1. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the fermata from claim 1 on a table with a guitar resting against the fermata. The fermata is shown as a rounded shape 20. In FIG. 2, the cross section view shows the cross-section shape is round in this figure. The cross section shape can be a variety of shapes including but not limited to be round, ellipse, oblong, squared, cylindrical and having three or more sides. The fermata in this preferred embodiment includes a recess 30 that is essentially square when viewed in cross section in FIG. 2. The first recess 30 is intended for use on the corner of a 60 desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface as shown in FIG. 3. The cross section view is shown having a first recess 30 that has square sides but the first recess can have corners that are greater or less than 90 degrees. The first recess can have multiple edges. The first recess may also include a rounded recess to fit around a rounded edge. The first recess may include a “U” or “J” shape that can wrap around the edge of a desk table or other surface. The first recess may contain one or more suction cups that can hold the fermata in place on a smooth surface. The width of the fermata is shown with rounded ends, but the ends can be a variety of shapes including but not limited to pointed, square, or concave. A second recess 40 is shown that allows a musical instrument or tool to be cradled within the second recess. In FIG. 3, a guitar 70 is shown with the neck of the guitar resting within the second recess. The edges of the fermata 50 are shows as rounded, but the edges can be square or chamfered.

The fermata is intended to reduce the possibility of the guitar sliding when the guitar is placed against the edge of a desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface. Because the fermata is not attached to the desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface the fermata can be easily placed or moved. Because of the portability of the fermata, the fermata can be placed in a guitar case or easily moved. In FIG. 3, the fermata is shown used with a guitar, but the fermata can be used with any instrument that may or may not freely stand in a vertical orientation without the possibility of the instrument tipping over. The fermata can also be used with a tool such as a broom axe or other elongated tool that may not stand freely.

The material used can be homogeneous such as natural or synthetic rubber. The fermata can be made of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, polyethylene, polyamide, polyurethane, latex rubber, foam rubber, nitride, butyl, epichlorohydrin, ethylene-propylene-diene-methylene, hypalon, neoprene, santoprene, silicone, sorbothane, viton, pure gum rubber or other material that increases the coefficient of friction between the instrument of tool and the desk wall or other surface the fermata is placed against. The material can be open or closed cell material. The firmness and flexibility of the fermata is such that the fermata is not permanently deformed by the surface the fermata is placed. The firmness and flexibility of the fermata can be such that the fermata conforms or shapes around the surface and or the instrument. The color of fermata can be any variety including a solid white, black or a variety of colors. The hardness of the fermata can be soft from a shore 20 when measured in the shore 00 scale to shore 70 in the shore A scale. In the preferred embodiment, the hardness is between 25 and 95 when measured in the shore 00 scale.

Refer now to the fermata shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a fermata. FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the fermata from claim 4 attached to a musical instrument. In this alternative embodiment, the fermata is attached to a musical instrument, and more specifically in this figure, the musical instrument is a guitar. The shape of the fermata wraps around the head of a guitar without reducing the sound quality of the instrument or the tuning ability of the instrument. Refer now to FIG. 4 that show the fermata 100 that is not installed on an instrument. From this figure, item 110 is the back of the fermata that rests against the back of the head of a guitar. The back surface 110 extends up to the inner surface of the fermata 120 that rests against the top of a guitar, and then extends further around to a front lip 130 that captures the front of a guitar where the guitar strings attach to the tuning capstans. Other embodiments are contemplated that engage onto the head or other parts of the musical instrument, or are adhesively joined to the instrument. FIG. 5 shows the fermata attached to the head of a guitar 150. From this figure, the tuning mechanism 160 can be seen. The fermata in this embodiment does not interfere with the tuning mechanism, playing of the instrument, or the sound quality of the instrument. The back surface 140 of the fermata is raised above the head of the guitar, such that when the guitar is rested against a surface such as a wall the fermata is in contact with the wall, and the coefficient of friction between the fermata and the wall reduces sliding motion of the guitar with the wall.

While the musical instrument in this embodiment is a guitar, the musical instrument and the shape of the fermata can change. As an example, the fermata can be semi-circular in shape and wrap around a saxophone. A number of other instruments and configurations of the fermata have been contemplated that provide the function of reducing the possibility of an elongated instrument from moving or sliding when the instrument is placed against a surface or edge.

Refer now to the fermata shown in FIG. 6 that shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of a fermata. In this embodiment, the fermata 200 is placed on the end handle 220 of a cleaning tool such as a broom, mop or shovel 210. The fermata in this figure is a rectangular shape where one side 230 is wider than the other 240. This configuration of a wide and narrow side reduces the possibility of the fermata spinning as it might move down a wall. Other shapes are contemplated such as triangular or shapes having more than four sides. In this figure the bottom of the fermata tapers or draft to a narrower top surface. The taper or draft increases the surface contact area of the fermata when it is placed against a wall, but the fermata may have straight sides, or may be installed onto the tool such that the narrow tapered surface is located on the bottom. This embodiment also shows a through hole 250 where the end of the handle is shown going through. Other embodiments are possible that do not include a through hole, and the end of the handle 220 is protected by the fermata.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a fermata have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. 

1. A movement reduction device comprising: a elastomeric musical instrument neck rest that is formed in an egg shape; has a first squared recess for placement on the edge of a desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface; a second curved recess to hold the elongated neck of a musical instrument where; the elastomeric musical instrument rest increases the coefficient of friction between the neck of the musical instrument and the edge of the desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface.
 2. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the elastomeric musical instrument neck rest is made from a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, latex and neoprene.
 3. The elastomeric musical instrument neck rest from claim 2 wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of 20 in the shore 00 scale to 70 in the shore A scale.
 4. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the first squared recess is essentially square in cross-section, and may contain at least one suction cup.
 5. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the second curved recess is “V”, square, rectangular, round ellipse, or oblong, in cross section.
 6. (canceled)
 7. A movement reduction device comprising: an elastomeric musical instrument protection device that is formed to attach to a musical instrument; such that when the musical instrument protection device is attached to the neck or head of a musical instrument; and the musical instrument protection device placed against a vertical surface, the musical instrument protection device reduces potential motion between the instrument and the vertical surface.
 8. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device is attached to the instrument with using an adhesive.
 9. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device is attached to the instrument with an interference fit.
 10. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device wraps around the instrument.
 11. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of 20 in the shore 00 scale to 70 in the shore A scale. 12-20. (canceled) 